Pyramid of the Sun

A giant stone building sits in a city.

It is called the Sun Pyramid. Long ago, people built it in two parts. It is one of the largest pyramids in the world.

Ancient people painted the walls with bright colors. They also used smooth plaster to cover it. A special cave is deep under the building. People thought these caves were very holy. The pyramid was built right over that cave. It was a very important place for the city.

The Pyramid of the Sun is a huge building. It is in the city of Teotihuacan. People think it was built around 200 AD.

The Aztecs gave it this name. They visited the city long after it was empty.

Workers built the pyramid in two steps. The first part made it very large. The second part finished it. It became one of the largest pyramids in the world.

Long ago, people covered the stone with smooth plaster. They also painted bright murals on it. We cannot see the paint today.

There is a cave deep under the pyramid. This cave is six meters below the center. Many people think the cave is very holy. In their culture, caves were like the "wombs of the Earth."

The pyramid was built right over this special spot. It was made to line up with the sun. This helped people track the sun on certain days. Archaeologists found many things in the tunnels. They found pottery and small art pieces there.

The Pyramid of the Sun is a massive building in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. It stands as one of the largest structures in all of Mesoamerica.

This pyramid sits along the Avenue of the Dead. It is located near the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela. The huge building even sits in the shadow of the mountain called Cerro Gordo.

People call it the Pyramid of the Sun because of the Aztecs. The Aztecs visited the city many centuries after it was abandoned. We do not know what the original builders called it.

Construction of the pyramid happened in two main stages. The first stage began around 200 AD. This first part brought the pyramid close to its current size.

The second stage of building made it its final, massive size. This second round of work also added an altar to the very top. The ancient builders covered the stone with lime plaster. They imported this plaster from areas nearby. They even painted bright murals on the smooth surfaces. We cannot see these colors today because the paint did not last.

Archaeologists have studied the ground beneath the structure for a long time. In 1959, Rene Millon and his team looked at the tunnel systems. They found that some tunnels were made by later people. However, other tunnels and caves were made much earlier.

These researchers found pottery and carefully made objects in the tunnels. Millon believed the pyramid was built by motivated people. He thought they were not just slaves. The craftsmanship shows how much work went into the building. The tunnels show that different cultures may have influenced the site.

There is a very important cave six meters below the center.

Some people once thought it was a natural lava tube. Now, many experts believe it is a man-made space. It may have served as a royal tomb for a leader. In Mesoamerican culture, caves were seen as sacred places. They were often called the "wombs of the Earth." Many people believed different groups of humans came from caves. This made the cave a very holy focal point for the city.

Everything about the pyramid connects to the stars and the sun. The builders chose a spot to align with the mountain Cerro Gordo.

They also aligned it with sunrises and sunsets on specific dates. The peak of the pyramid acts as a marker for the sun. This helped people track the sun during the Aztec quarter days. The whole layout of the city follows this special orientation. This shows how much the people valued the movements of the sky. The pyramid was a central part of their world.

The Pyramid of the Sun is a massive structure in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. It is the largest building in that city and one of the largest in all of Mesoamerica.

The name we use today comes from the Aztecs. They visited the city many centuries after it had been abandoned. We do not know what the original Teotihuacanos called the building. It remains a central part of the urban grid and sits along the Avenue of the Dead. It is located between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela. The structure also sits in the shadow of the mountain known as Cerro Gordo.

Construction of this monument occurred in two distinct phases. The first stage began around 200 AD. This initial phase brought the pyramid to nearly its current size. The second phase of construction completed the massive structure. This second round of work also added an altar at the very top.

Although the pyramid is enormous, it is just over half the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The ancient builders finished the exterior with lime plaster. They imported this plaster from the surrounding areas. They also painted brilliant murals on the plaster surfaces. While the stone has endured, the colorful paint and plaster are no longer visible.

The pyramid was built on a very specific and carefully selected spot. The builders aligned the structure with the Cerro Gordo mountain to the north. They also aligned it with sunrises and sunsets on specific dates.

This alignment allowed the peak to serve as a natural marker for the sun. It helped people track the sun during the Aztec quarter days of the year. This astronomical orientation was so important that the entire central part of Teotihuacan was built to match it. The Avenue of the Dead and the central urban grid reproduce the orientation of the Pyramid of the Sun.

Archaeologists have discovered a complex system of tunnels and caves underneath the pyramid. In 1959, Rene Millon and his team began studying these underground passages. They found that some tunnels were made after the fall of Teotihuacan. However, other tunnels and caves were made much earlier.

Millon's team found pottery and other meticulously made artifacts in these tunnels. These items showed evidence of different cultures within Teotihuacan. Millon believed the pyramid was built by motivated people rather than just slaves. He argued this because of the high level of craftsmanship shown in the building.

A very important cave exists six meters beneath the center of the structure. Some researchers once thought this was a natural lava tube. More recent excavations suggest the space is man-made. It may have served as a royal tomb for a leader.

In Mesoamerican culture, caves were considered sacred sites. They were often called the "wombs of the Earth." Many people believed that different ethnic groups originated from such cavities. This makes the cave a likely reason why the pyramid was built in this exact location. The cave was likely a focal point for a primitive place of worship.

Many deities in Mesoamerican history are connected to caves. For example, Tepeyolotl is an Earth deity, and Xiuhtecuhtli is a god of fire. Xiuhtecuhtli was believed to live in a cave at the center of the Earth. Archaeologists have found many glyphs using cave symbols to show their importance. The Pyramid of the Sun was built directly over this holy grotto. This connection helped the pyramid become a central focal point for the entire society. It served as a ceremonial place that linked the people to their religious history.

Archaeologists have recovered several types of artifacts from the site. They found obsidian arrowheads and human figurines inside the pyramid. Similar objects have been found at the nearby Pyramid of the Moon. Some researchers believe these objects may have represented sacrificial victims. Near the foot of the pyramid, they discovered the Teotihuacan Ocelot. This unique historical artifact is now held in the British Museum. They also found burial sites for children at the corners of the pyramid. These burials are believed to have been part of a ritual to dedicate the building.